Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

The galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) is a small pink and grey cockatoo, 24-40 centimetres in length and 227-380 grams in weight. The sexes look alike, but the eyes of the male are dark brown, while those of the female are pinkish-red. It is the most widespread and abundant of the Australian cockatoos and is found throughout the interior areas of the Australian mainland. The original habitat of the galah was chiefly inland semi-arid shrublands and drier coastal areas to the north. The birds were typically found along watercourses with suitable nesting and roosting trees. Galahs are sociable birds, often seen in flocks of more than 100 individuals. Flocks of up to 2,000 have also been recorded. They forage mostly on the ground for seeds. Hollows in living or dead eucalypts trees near a water source are used for nesting. When hollows are scarce, galahs will also use cliffs or steel pipes used for gate posts.